Be bold and take up coaching - K.K. Sarpong urges Appiah

The former Executive Board Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Dr Desmond Kofi Kodua Sarpong, has urged ex-Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, not to be intimidated by insults as he decides on a career after retiring on Saturday.

Dr Sarpong, who also chairs the board of the Global Group of Companies, advised Appiah not to be daunted by the fear of criticism while making a choice between football coaching and management.

"He (Appiah) must take up football management or coaching even though only few successful players ended up as successful coaches. We all know that Mourinho did not play big time football but is now a successful football," Dr Sarpong stated.

He said these when he received Appiah, who had gone to his office to extend an invitation to him to attend his(Appiah) testimonial match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

"Stephen you shouldn't be intimidated, they will insult you, that one is normal as they insulted me and continue to do so but you still have something to give back because you will blend the practice and theory”, he added.

Dr Sarpong also implored the GFA to consider Appiah and other retired national stars for managerial roles in any of the national teams because of the leadership qualities and discipline they demonstrated as Black Stars players.

Earlier in the day, the former national captain was led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Ahmed Mustapha to visit President John Dramani Mahama to invite him to Saturday’s testimonial match.

During the visit, President Mahama ordered for the fees to be charged for the use of the Accra Sports Stadium for Appiah’s testimonial match to be waived as part of the state's contribution to the last hurrah of the former Black Stars captain.

Accompanying Appiah was GFA vice-president, Fred Crentsil, GFA Communications Director, Ibrahim Saanie Daara, former Black Stars striker, Augustine Ahinful and officials of Primeval Media Ghana Limited.